Slide for playgrounds



Aug. 26, 1930.

W. o. T. WATKINS SLIDE FOR PLAYaRoUNns Filed June 14. 1927 dren are prevented from found on school playgrounds.

Patented Aug. 26, 1 930 UNITED 'ISTATES. {PATENT oFFIcE WILLIAMS 0. 'r. WATKINS, OF LITTLE ROCK, v. mfuuvsns SLIDE FOR rLAYGnoUNns Application filed June 14, 1927. seri l Nb. 195,2335.

My invention relates to slides'ffor play-1 grounds. It has for its object to provide a construction whereby greater safety to chil dren using the slide is provided, and the chilpracticing the hazardous sport commonly known as skin- I ning the cat and which frequently results I in serious accidents to the children practicing that sport on the slides very In the drawing the numeral 1 designates.

the runway of the slide 2 the steps orvstaircase leading to the platform at the top of the run-way; 4 the bracing frame for the steps and run-way; sides of the stair-case, and 6 the side hand rails to the platform, said side, rails 6 being braced by the upright brace rods 7 rising from the upper end of thetrun-way'or the form at the top thereof.' The parts a ove specified may be of any approved type ofconstruction and constituting in general the playground slide in very general use.

In order to prevent children grasping the side rails of the platform, swinging forward beyond the ends of the rails and dropping onto the run-way and thus incurring theevil results of sudden shock, and possible injury to the spine, the side rails, at their ends, may be joined one to'the otheriby a cross-rail 8 which will necessitate the child stooping to pass beneath the cross-rail in order to reachv the run-way and in that way dropping onto the run-way by a swinging jump is prevented and possible injury to the child guarded against. 1

With such cross-guard rail or bar, however the inclination of the child is to skin the cat as it'is commonly termed and this is generally to be right 5 the hand rails at opposite lat likely to result'lin' kicking or striking the" child following the one in the lead, as well as being calculated to result in some injury to the child indulging in that particular sport.

With the view ofpreventing that sport being indulged in on the slide, I provideback of the forward ends ofthe side rails to the platform:

an arched or the side rails which provides an obstruction in the path of the swing-of the body and legs in .making the circle or somersault involved in skinning the cat and thus the child is prevented indulging in that particular sport on the slide and the consequent dangers guarded against. This bowed orarched member may be connected to the side rails 6, or totheupbowed member 9, rising above brace rods 7 in any suitable manner,

the preferred means being by couplings 10 'of a i appropriate 7 ends of the arch member to the side rails or upright brace rods as illustrated, although any other suitable come within mechanical the purpose I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention but it is to be understood that changes can be made coupling means as may therein without departing from the scope of the invention as sought to be defined by the appended claim.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is A slide for playgrounds comprising an in- 'clined run-way having a platform at its upper end, side hand rails at the upperpart of the run-way and projecting beyond the platform, a cross-rod connecting together the polnt forward portions of the'hand rails at a formation for connecting the V skill may be used for I sov beyond the forward edge of the platform, and

an arched'mernber connected to the hand rails a and spanning the space between the rails.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM T; WATKINS. 

